Securing means for electrical connecting devices



Dec. 12, 1933. M, UET 1,939,298

SECURING MEANS FOR ELECTRICAL CONNECTING DEVICES Original Filed Nov. 6', 1950 74- M o i9 70 k if r I if INVENTOR- MONROE GUETT BY HIS ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 12, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SECURING MEANS FOR ELECTRICAL CONNECTING DEVICES Original application November 6, 1930, Serial No. 493,868. Divided and this application May 12,

1932. Serial No. 610,916

1 Claim. (01. 173-332) This application is a division of my co-pending application Serial No. 493,868, filed November 6th, 1930, Patent 1,866,407 issued July 5, 1932.

This invention relates to electric connecting devices, more particularly it relates to quick detachable connectors provided with socket contacts which are adapted to cooperate with contact fingers which project from an electrical translating device.

Heretofore this type of connector has commonly been made of two similar halves which have been secured together either by nuts and bolts piercing the two halves or by a metallic band surrounding them. The nut and bolt method had the disadvantage that the bolt loosened and had to be repeatedly tightened; and the metallic bands have not been wholly satisfactory.

It is an object of my invention to provide a more simple securing means which may be removed and replaced more quickly than the prior securing devices andwhich can be manufactured very cheaply.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side view of a two part connector 5 in whichthe halves are held together by my new securing meahs.

Figure 2 is a sectional view of the connector of Figure 1, the section being taken along the divisional plane between the two halves.

Figure 3 is a transverse section through the connector taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1.

The drawing shows a conventional connector having similar complementary halves 10 and 12 made of an insulating composition and having contact cavities 14 and 16 molded in one surface thereof, the cavities being separated by a barrier Upon fitting the halves of the connector together a flattened tube is formed. Into an aperture 1'! at one end thereof feed wires are customarily led while twin apertures 18 at the other end permit the contact fingers of an electrical device to enter and engage the socket contacts (not shown) within the contact cavities, 14 and 16 of the connector.

According to my invention the halves of the connector are held together by metal clips in the form of split metal rings 20 which possess the characteristics of stiffness and resiliency. The rings fit snugly around cylindrical nubs 22, one half of each of which is formed on each half of 80 the connector by cutting circular channels 23 in the sides of the connector so that one half of each channel lies in each half of the connector leaving the nubs 22 standing in the middle. The channels on the opposite sides of the casing are preferably parallel. The sides of the channels may be inclined toward the bases of the nubs to facilitate insertion of a knife blade or finger nail, beneath the ring 20 to lift it off the nub 22. To hold the ring in place around the nub, the nub istapered toward its base. For the same purpose a head or the like may be formed around the top of the nub.

It will be noted that by having the securing clips or rings 20 seated in parallel channels on opposite sides of the connectonjas shown, the two sections are held from sliding longitudinally or laterally and at the same time the sections are firmly held together without the use of screws.

The spring rings 20 may be cut from steel wire at a very, low cost yet affording a very eiiflcient and eflective securing means which may be quickly removed and replaced without the necessity for the use of the customary tools. Thus the cost of the connector is reduced without any impairment of quality over prior connectors.

I claim:

An electrical connecting device comprising two cooperating insulating members forming a fiattened insulating casing having a feed wire aperture at one end and contact apertures at the other end, the dividing plane between said two members running longitudinally of said casing, nubs formed on each side face of said casing, a portion of each nub being on each casing member, resilient clips embracing said nubs and holding the parts of said casing together, saidclips being similar in shape to said nubs'and lying in parallel planes.

MONROE GUETI'. 

